Gingoog: Jubilant at 50

My beloved Gingoog City has just turned 50, having been declared a chartered city in 1960. That is why the city is abuzz with plenty of activities, such as a fun run, a mountain climb, merry street dancing called Kaliga, with the revelers wearing colorful costumes, a boxing bout and a town tournament named after the town mayor, a band and bugle corps marching around town, a trade fair and a cooking fest, free dental-medical sessions, the crowning of little Miss Gingoog and her court, a rigodon de honor staged by prominent men and women and city executives, and the much-awaited event, the crowning of Mrs. Gingoog Charter City or the Jubilee Queen, and her royal court, and the awarding of outstanding Gingoog-nons. The celebration began first week, and goes on till the end of this month.

There are two persons who, assisted with their staff, planned the celebration from A to Z: Mayor Ruth de Lara Guingona, who has won her third bid for the mayoralty in the May 10 elections, and whose son, Sen. Teofisto Guingona III, has just been reelected. The other celebrator is former RTC Judge Potenciano de los Reyes who is the voluntary city tourism council head and whose job for many years now, without him complaining, but savoring every minute of it, is to promote the Charter City celebration, which falls in July, and the city’s fiesta celebration in May, and other projects aimed to draw tourists to this fabled city in Misamis Oriental.

Mayor Guingona, an attractive woman who 50 years ago was the belle of the town, said she was proud about what she has been able to accomplish during her two terms in office. No one can contest how much better-looking the city is, with a bigger market (a new one is yet on the drawing board), a commercial center, a beautified plaza, a promenade along the bay, more concrete residential homes, a greener city with rows of bougainvilla in full bloom on the sidewalks. Livelihood and health awareness trainings are taking place. I don’t know how much the city’s income is, but commercial activity is evident, and computer centers are in abundance. The mayor expressed hope that the harnessing of a hydro-electric plant will give the city a bigger budget.

The city eagerly awaits the completion of the cementing of the highway going to Claveria and Cagayan de Oro City, a project realizable with the nod of the provincial governor, Oscar Moreno, a good friend of Mayor Guingona, and who was the coronation night (July 19) guest speaker. The governor expressed appreciation for the mayor’s accomplishments, and wished her even better years ahead.

Judge de los Reyes, who is now a law professor, gave me a lowdown on the city’s history. Gingoog is the Manobo word for “good luck.” Manobos were the first settlers. In 1868, the place became a Spanish pueblo, and in 1903, a municipality under the American regime. By this time, the original settlers, the Manobos, had become a silent minority. In 1960, Gingoog became a chartered city by virtue of RA No. 2008 authored by Rep. Fausto Dugenio and signed into law by President Carlos P. Garcia. The city was created during the incumbency of Municipal Mayor Julio Ganaban and Vice-Mayor Arturo S. Lugod. The first elected city officials were Mayor Domingo de Lara and Vice-Mayor Romulo S. Rodriguez.

The charter city observes its 50th year of existence with a flurry of merrymaking. A highlight of this is the awarding of outstanding Gingoognons whose names and accomplishments underwent thorough screening by a nominating and awards committee headed by Judge de los Reyes.

The youngest of the awardees is the son of my friend Joji Caballero Balsamo, recognized for his great talent in the field of music. Jude Edgard or “Jed” is a multi-awarded pianist composer/musical arranger and musical director who has done compositions for films and the stage. He created the hymn of the city called “Himno de Gingoog.”

The city has its own Manny Pacquiao in the person of Rolando B. Toyogon who has bagged championship belts in lightweight title bouts which have placed Gingoog City in the world of sports.

Domingo Villafranca Samson, after 14 years of dedicated service, rose to become the first Gingoog Schools Division Superintendent — an accomplishment that makes his city of birth proud.

Leonora Galteros Tinio could not make it to the ceremonies, but her contribution was well recognized with a handsome trophy. She is the first woman partner of Asian descent in two leading certified public accounting and counseling firms in New York and New Jersey in the US. She has helped send plenty of her professional kababayans to the US.

The fifth award went to yours truly, for her being the only Gingoognon who writes a column for a national daily, and for making Gingoog known to Philippine STAR readers.

Plaques of recognition were also given to Roberto Sanchez, secretary to the Sangguniang Panglungsod, for writing the lyrics of the Hymno de Gingoog; Atty Cenon Alcala, for his continuous involvement as co-chair of the City Development Council; Catalino E. Chan III, for his contribution to tourist development promotions; the Provincial Government of Misamis Oriental, for “promoting the cause of tourism in Gingoog,” and the Asia Pacific Timber and Plywood Corp., also for its tourism promotion efforts.

The Mrs. Gingoog City Charter 2010, or the Jubilee Queen, is a smart entrepreneur and head of the city’s water district. She is Myrna Reyes Valdevilla, whose husband is just-retired RTC judge Downey Valdevilla, who happens to be this columnist’s classmate (Class ’56) at Gingoog Institute. Myrna wore a catching golden gown, as did her royal court consisting of Erlinda A. Milon, a high school principal; Sarah Jean Dael, and Genesa I. Tuto. This royal court proved that women above 50 who are mothers and grandmothers, can still be beautiful and smart, and ably represent their city in national competitions.

Incidentally, at the coronation and awarding night, I sat beside the first Charter City queen — Norma Cuerdo Zamora, who recounted that life in her early 20s - was “simple, but beautiful.” She had words of praise for Mayor Guingona, who once was Northern Mindanao in a national beauty contest.

Another early Charter City beauty was Chita Ferrer Villanueva, another classmate of mine at G.I.

The revelry goes on in this beloved city which I had to leave, for, as Robert Frost wrote, “the woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep.”

* * *

My e-mail:[email protected]